Portable map case



Aug. 25, 1942. E. B. HOPKINS PORTABLE MAP CASE Filed Feb. 5, 1941 I, f l

Patented Aug. 25, 1942 l UNITED STATE S PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE MAP CASE Elliott B. Hopkins, Wheeling. W. Va. Application February 5, 1941, Serial No. 377,577 3 Claims. (CL 224-47) 'Ihis invention relates to a portable map carrying case, and more especially to a map carryin case for use in eld work. l

One of the objects oi' this invention is to provide a map carrying case which is of simple construction and is especially adapted to be used in the ileld, especially for military service.

Another object of this invention is to provide a map carrying case containing, together with a map, a plurality of transparent protective sheets between which tracing paper can be inserted.

A further object of this invention is to provide a portable map carrying case comprising a water-proof covering to the top and bottom portions of which are attached means for positioning a map within the case, each of said means being provided with a device to hold the case in extended position when unrolled.

With these and other objects in view, this invention embraces broadly the concept, of providing a portable map case provided with an exterior cover of ilexible material to the interior top and bottom borders of which is attached a rigid means for positioning a map and the plurality of superposed transparent iiexiblesheets between which can be inserted tracing paper. The case is rolled up for carrying purposes, and after being unrolled it is held in extended position by a pivoted arm mounted on each of the map positioning means. said arms in operative position extending along the lateral edges of the case from one to the other o! said positioning means.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the portable case in closed position.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the portable case in open position showing the relative positions of the several parts.

' Figure 3 is a perspective view of the case in extended and braced position.

Figure 4 is a view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows. c

Figure 5 is a view Figure 3, looking in rows.

Figure 6 is a view taken along line 8-9 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the artaken along line 5-5 of the direction of the arrows.

Figure 'l is a view taken along line 1-1 oi Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

As illustrated ins map and drawing case, generally designated by the numeral I, comprises a flexible outer covering 2 made of any suitable material, such as imitation leather which is preferably waterproof. The case is held in rolled position by a strap of any suitable design 3.

The case is designed for carrying and positioning a map l and a pair or more of transparent semi-flexible sheets 5 and 8 in superposed relation to the map. These sheets are composed of any suitable material, such as cellulose acetate. and serve as a transparent protection for the map when the case i is in open position. Moreover, a sheet oi' tracing paper .'l can be inserted between the transparent sheets 5 and 8.

As best shown in Figures 6 and 7, a means for attaching the map l and transparent sheets 5 and 8 in substantially superposed relation is provided at one longitudinal edge of the cover- 2. This attaching means comprises a transversely extending pair of parallel rigid strips 8 and 9 which are attached to the interior portion of the covering 2 by any suitable means such as the glove snaps and rivets disclosed in the drawings.

The inwardly positioned strip 8 is attached to the covering 2 by means of snaps I0 which extend through the strip 8. In constructing the case the edge 2' of the covering 2 is turned so that the strip 9 attached to the edge 2' is superposed on the strip 8 and apertures I i in the strip 9 removably engage the snaps I0 and hold the two strips in fixed relation.

As illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, the map 4 is retainedbetween strips .8 and 9 and the extremities of the strip to secure the strip 9 to the turned portion 2' of the cover 2. An arm I5 is pivotally mounted on the snap l2 and detachably attached to the snap Il.

As best shown in Figures 4 and 5, a rigid strip Il is mounted on the interior surface of the opposite longitudinal edge of the cover 2 by means of snaps I1 and I8 which extend through the cover 2. A snap i9 which does not extend through the cover 2 is positioned on the strip I6 in the drawing, the portable intermediate these points. One extremity oi' an arm 20 is pivotally mounted on the snap I1 and the other extremity detachably mounted on the snap I8.

As best shown in Figure 7 the map l is mounted in the case I between the mated indentations 2l on the strips 8 and 9. The transparent sheets and 6 are provided with perforations 23 through roll and fastened by the strip 3 for purposes of transportation or storage. When it is desired to open the case, the cover 2 is unrolled as shown in Figure 2.

After unrolling the arm I5 is detached from the snap I4 and extended to engage the snap I8 on the lower strip IB. The arm 20 is also disengaged from the snap I9 and extended to the snap I3. This operation forms a rigidly extended surface, as shown in Figure 3, which is framed by the strips 8, Band I6 and the arms I5 and 20. In this position the map can be readily used for tracing purposes.

In this connection the transparent sheets 5 and/or E can readily be Withdrawn from under the strip I6 for purposes of removing the map l or for inserting newsheets of tracing paper 1. Moreover, the arms I5 and 20 are readily available to serve as straight edges to locate points by the coordinate system by detaching either extremity of each of the arms. scales may be etched or glued on these arms for exact work.

A further advantage of this device resides in the fact that the transparent sheets 5 and 6 are held securely in relation to the map positioned beneath. This permits the rapid tracing of special situations desired from other maps by marking the coordinate and critical points on a tracing sheet. This information can be immediately oriented on a wall or table map located, for example, in subordinate headquarters, and the situation traced directly without the use or loss of time of making an overlay. Immediately upon return of the sheet to the case between the transparent sheets the new situation appears directly over the map in its true relation. This is a time saver as it permits direct posting when the situation arises.

While for purposes of illustration one means for attaching the metallic parts of the case to each other has been disclosed, it is obvious that other similar devices may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. Moreover, the type of cover used and the number of sheets or composition of the sheets employed may be varied within the scope of the invention.

It is therefore to be understood that this invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A portable roll map case comprising an outer exible cover, a strip secured to the inner surface of the cover adjacent, but spaced from and in parallel relation to one end of the cover, snap 'Ihe transparent sheet 1 is loosely inserted y If desired, various 35 fastener studs securing said strip to said cover and projecting through the upper portion of said strip, a second strip having openings therein and said openings, said end of the cover extending up and back over the top of the second strip, means for securing the end portion of the cover to said second strip, a third strip secured at its ends'to the other end of said cover, flexible transparent sheet 4material xedly interposed at one of its ends between the second'strip and the portion of the cover secured thereto, said flexible transparent sheet material extending from the second strip to, and having its other end received between, the third strip and the portion of the cover secured to the latter, said first mentioned and second strips cooperating to grip one end of a map to be carried in the case and the cover and transparent material cooperating to maintain and support the map therebetween, stiif link means pivotally mounted on a strip at one end of the cover adjacent one side of the case, and cooperating snap fastener elements carried by the end of the link means and a strip at the other end of the cover adjacent the corresponding side of the case to retain the case in unrolled condition for inspection of the map.

2. A portable roll map case comprising an outer flexible cover, a strip secured to the inner surface of the cover adjacent, but spaced from and in parallel relation to one end of the cover. snap fastener studs securing said strip to said cover and projecting through the upper portion of said strip, a second strip having openings therein and detachably secured on said iirst mentioned strip by the snap fastener studs projecting through said Openings, said end of the cover extending up and back over the top of the second strip, means for securing the end portion of the cover to said second strip, a third strip secured at its ends to the other end of said cover, flexible transparent sheet material xedly interposed at one of its ends between the second strip and the portion of the cover secured thereto, said flexible transparent sheet material extending from the second strip to, and having its other end received between, the third strip and the portion of the cover secured to the latter, mating gripping elements on said first mentioned and second strips cooperating to grip one end of a map to be carried in the case and the cover and transparent material cooperating to maintain and support the map therebetween, stiff link means pivotally mounted on a strip at one end of the cover adjacent one side of the case, and cooperating snap fastener elements carried by the end of the link means and a strip at the other end of the cover adjacent the corresponding side of the case to retain the case in unrolled condition for inspection of the map.

3. A portable roll map case comprising an outer exible cover, flexible transparent sheet material secured at one end to the cover at one end of the latter, means at the other end of the cover including a strip extending transversely of the cover to detachably receive the other end of the transparent sheet material, binding means at the end of the cover to which the transparent material is secured and including strip means extending transversely of the cover to detachably grip one end of a map and maintain the map between the cover and the transparent material, stiiI link means pivotally mounted on a strip at one end of the cover adjacent one side of the case, and cooperating snap fastener elements carried by the end of the link means and a strip at the other end of the cover adjacent the corresponding side of the case to retain the case in unrolled condition for inspection of the map.

ELLIO'I'I' B. HOPKINS. 

